Washing machine



D. HAY

March 28, 1939.

WASHING MACHINE M a n 4 n. w 0 1m H a v 5 A d s \V-HI- l MW r0 mm H T.

. H WW March 28, 1939. D. HAYS WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 31, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fi s,

Inventov David H2155 by Wax/Ly 5. His Attovneg.

Patented Mar. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WASHING MACHINE Application August 31, 1937, Serial No. 161,771

10 Claims.

The present invention relates to domestic washing machines of the type in which washing is effected by oscillation of a receptacle containing the clothes and the washing solution.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement in washing machines of this type and for a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention attention is directed to the following description and the claimsappended thereto.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section of a washing machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view partly broken away of the oscillatory receptacle; Fig. 3 is a perspective view partly broken away of a modified form of the receptacle; Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the construction and configuration of thepartitions of the receptacle shown in Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the driving mechanism for oscillat' 1g the receptacle.

Referring to the drawings, the tub I is supported at the center by a tubular post 2 projecting through a central opening in the bottom of the tub. The tub rests on a flange 3 on the post and is clamped between the flange and a nut 4 threaded on the post. Suitable gaskets are arranged between the tub and the flange and between the tub and the nut to prevent leakage. The lower end of the post 2 is secured in any suitable manner (not shown) to the top of a casing 6 housing the driving mechanism for the washing machine. The casing is supported by a skirt 1 towhich are attached supporting legs 8. The casing projects outside the skirt and fixed in the projecting end of the casing is a tubular post 9 the upper end of which is adapted to support a wringer. Through the post extends a shaft 9 for driving the wringer.

The post 2 extends upward into the tub above the normal water level which is indicated by broken lines in Fig. l. A vertical shaft to extends from the casing 6 upward through the post and is journaled at its upper end in a bearing ll carried by the post. Fixed to the upper end of the shaft is a nut l2 which fits into a complementary opening in the hub it of a receptacle i9 thereby forming a driving connection between the shaft and the receptacle. The shaft and the receptacle are supported by a thrust washer l4 arranged between the nut i2 and the upper end of the post 2. A cup I! which is snapped in place over the upper end of the hub l3 prevents water which is splashed over the upper end of the hub from leaking around the shaft. The hub I3 depends around the post 2 and at its lower end carries a. collar It which is iournaled on a bearing H on the post. The lower end of the hub is fixed to the bottom wall I! of the receptacle. The receptacle is of substantially the same size as the tub. Surrounding the hub I3 is a cylindrical member which is fixed at its upper end to the hub and at its lower end to the bottom wall of the receptacle. Extending between the cylindrical member 20 and the side walls of the receptacle are perforated sinuous radial partitions 2i which divide the receptacle into compartments. The partitions may be made of wire mesh screen, expanded metal, or perforated metal, as illustrated. For convenience, only a few of the perforations are shown. The bottom wall may likewise be perforated. Midway between the partitions on the bottom wall of the receptacle are radially extending stepped portions or ribs 22. As shown in Fig. 2 these portions are made by bending a sheet of metal and securing the edges to the bottom,

wall of the receptacle. As is obvious, these portions could be formed integral with the bottom wall of the receptacle. One side has a relatively long incline 23 and the other side has a relatively sharp incline 24. In the side walls of the receptacle are formed vertical corrugations 25. The upper edge of the receptacle terminates in an inwardly inclined rim 28 which prevents splashing of liquid outside the receptacle and keeps the clothes within the receptacle.

The mechanism for oscillating the receptacle is shown diagrammatically in Fig, 5. It comprises a worm gear 21 which is continuously rotated in any suitable manner. The worm gear has fixed thereto the shaft 9 which drives the wringer. Fixed to the gear is a crank pin 28 for a connecting rod 29. The other end of the connecting rod is pivotally connected to an arm 30 which is fixed to'the shaft Ill. As the worm gear is rotated the shaft I0 is oscillated. For a machine of the size ill trated, a machine having a washing capacity of approximately six pounds of clothes, satisfactory operation is obtained by oscillating the shaft I0 through an angle of approximately 60 at a' rate of 60 complete oscillations per minute. The rate and angle of oscillation obviously will vary with the design of the machine.

In the use of the machine the tub is filled with washing solution to the level indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 1, and the clothes to be washed are equally distributed among the compartments formed between the radial partitions place at the beginning of the reversal of the oscillating movement of the receptacle. At the instant before reversal of the receptacle, the clothes and the liquid within the compartments are moving in the same direction as the receptacle. When the receptacle is forcibly-reversed by the oscillating mechanism, the clothes and liquid continue their movement, due to momentum, and forcibly strike against the partitions. This impact causes the clothes to be compressed. The impact is rendered greater by the fact that the partitions are perforated so that the liquid flows through the partitions. This results in more intimate contacts of the clothes with the partitions. If the partitions were imperforate the impact between the clothes and the partitions would be cushioned to some extent by the liquid. When the clothes are against the partitions, the partitions are in effect substantially imperforate and are therefore more effective in reversing the liquid. The compression of the clothes against the sides of the partition continues until the mass of clothes and the liquid within the compartment have reached the same velocity as the receptacle. Since the oscillatory motion of the receptacle is substantially sinusoidal this condition is reached at substantially the midpoint of the oscillatory motion. During the succeeding portion of the oscillatory motion the speed of the receptacle gradually decreases while, due to momentum, the speed of the clothes and the liquid decreases at a lesser rate. This permits the clothes to expand until they are substantially evenly distributed throughout the compartment. At the end of the oscillatory movement the clothes and the liquid are therefore traveling in the samedirection as the receptacle and at a speed somewhat greater than the speed of movement of the receptacle. Upon the reversal of the receptacle to start the next cycle of operation the impact of the clothes with the partitions and the same cycle of motion is repeated. The operation of the washing machine therefore results in an alternate squeezing and expansion of the fabric which produces the flexing of the fibers necessary to remove the dirt.

Unless the distribution of the clothes within the compartments is changed during the oscillatory movement, the clothes'adjacent the partitions would be subjected to a substantially greater washing action than the clothes between the partitions; also, since the velocity of movement is directly proportional to the radius, the clothes at a greater radius would be subjected to more severe washing than the clothes at a lesser radius.

The variation in the washing action due to the difference in radius is decreased by the cylindrical member III atthe center of the receptacle.

'lhis member forms the inner wall of each of the compartments and since it is of substantial radius, the difference between the velocities at the surface of the member II and at the side wall 1 of the receptacle is decreased.

The change in distribution on the clothes in the compartments necessary, to secure uniform washing is effected by the curved section of the partitionaby the stepped portions 22 at the bottom of the receptacle, and by the corrugations II.

At the instant of theimpact of the clothes with the partitions forces are exerted by the partitions .on the clothes which are perpendicular to the surface of the partitions. The direction of these forces has been indicated in Fig. 2 by the arrows II, 32 and 38 and Il 32-, and it. The arrows II, 82 and 33 indicate the directions of the forces when the receptacle is turning in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, and the arrows 3|, 3!, and II indicatethe directions of the forces when the receptacle is turning in a counterclockwise direction. These forces tend to turn the clothes in a horizontal plane so as to change the distribution of the clothes.

The stepped portions or ribs 22 exert a force on the clothes at the bottom of the receptacle tending to produce a turning movement in a vertical plane. friction between the stepped portions and the clothes adjacent the bottom of the receptacle. From this aspect the stepped portions are equivalent to corrugations, ribs, or other friction increasing configurations. The friction between the stepped portions and the clothes tends to cause the clothes adjacent the bottom of the receptacle to more closely follow the oscillatory movement of the receptacle. Since the clothes above the bottom of the receptacle more closely follow the movement of the liquid within the rea ence in slope between the inclined portions 23 and 24. The inclined portion 24 being the steeper slope will exert greater force on the clothes adjacent the bottom of the tub and will tend to give the clothes a circulatory movement in aclockwise direction in a vertical plane, as viewed in Fig. 2..

The corrugations 25, in addition to providing a scrubbing surface which increases the washing action, also tend to cause a circulatory movement of the clothes in a horizontal plane. This circulatory movement is due to the diiference in speed between the clothes adjacent the corrugations, which travel at a speed more nearly equal to the speed of the periphery of the receptacle and the speed of the remaining clothes which travel at a speed more nearly equal to the speed of the liquid currents.

In Figs. 3 and 4 is shown a modified form of the receptacle. This receptacle comprises hub 34 which is supported and driven in the same manner as the hub l3 of the receptacle l9. Fixed to the hub are three radially extending partitions 35 the outer ends of which are fixed to a :cylindrical wall 36. Both the partitions 3i and the wall 38 are made of perforate material, such as wire mesh screen, expanded metal, or sheet metal having equally distributed punched openings, as illustrated. Only a few of the perforations are shown. From the upper edge the partitions 35 are curved downwardly in the manner shown in Fig. 4 and the lower edges 31 are attached to the adjacent partition. The partitions, therefore, form both the side and the bottom walls of the compartments. Midway between the ends the partitions are bent to form stepped portion 38 having a portion 39 of relatively small slope and a portion ill of relatively steep slope. The partitions extend outwardly toward the periphery of the receptacle with continuously increased slope and form an acute angle 4| with the receptacle. Avertical curved member 42 provides a fillet for this acute angle which prevents the clothes from being caught therein.

The operation of this receptacle is in general the same as the operation of the receptacle shown in Fig. 2. The radially curved portion of the partitions exerts forces on the clothes perpendicular to its surface tending to set up a circulation Thiseii'ectisdueinparttothe of the clothes in a horizontal plane. The direcv a circulation in a counterclockwise direction in a horizontal plane as viewed in Fig. 3.

Circulation in a vertical plane is produced by the inclination of the partitions from the vertical. This is most clearly shown in Fig. 4. At the instant when the receptacle reverses its direction of rotation from counterclockwise to clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3, the partitions at the right in Fig. 4 starts to move to the left. The clothes and liquid at this time are moving to the right and accordingly upon impact, slide up the inclined slope of the partition. The direction of movement of the clothes is indicated by the arrow 41. At the succeeding reversal of the receptacle, the clothes strike against the opposite sides of the partitions and are forced in the direction of the arrow 48. The net result is to produce a roll-over or circulation of the clothes in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4.

The stepped portion 38, of itself, would function in the same manner as the ribs 22 and would tend to produce a circulation in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4, due to the difference in force exerted by the slopes 40 and 39. When taken in conjunction with the rest of the receptacle, the stepped portions 38 increase the agitation of the clothes by deflecting the clothes in the direction of the arrow 49 when the receptacle is moving to the left as viewed in Fig. 4. This tends to prevent the clothes from rotating as a mass.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a washing machine, a tub, a receptacle within the tub having peripheral and bottom walls, perforate radial partitions forming therewith compartments for clothes such that clothes are respectively retained in the compartment in which initially placed, means for oscillating the receptacle whereby the clothes are subjected to alternate impacts with the partitions, and stepped portions on the bottom walls of the receptacle whereby the clothes are given circulatory movement in a vertical plane during the oscillation of the receptacle.

2. In a washing machine, a tub, a receptacle within the tub comprising a peripheral wall and perforate partitions extending radially outward to the peripheral wall and circumferentially along the bottom of the receptacle tov the adjacent partition forming compartments for clothes such that clothes are respectively retained in the compartment in which initially placed, and means for oscillating the receptacle whereby the clothes are subjected to alternate impacts with i the partitions.

3. In a washing machine, a tub, a receptacle within the tub having peripheral and bottom walls, perforate radial partitions forming therewith compartments for clothes such that clothes are respectively retained in the compartment in which initially; placed, means for oscillating the receptacle whereby the clothes are subjected to alternate impacts with the partitions, and rubbing projections on walls of said compartments causing a difference in the speed of movement between the clothes adjacent said walls and the remaining clothes whereby the distribution of receptacle whereby the clothes are subjected to alternate impacts with the partitions, and vertical ribs on the inner surface of the peripheral Walls of said receptacle.

5. In a washing machine, a tub, a receptacle Within the tub having peripheral and bottom walls, perforate radial partitions forming therewith compartments for clothes such that clothes are respectively retained in the compartment in which initially placed, means for oscillating the receptacle whereby the clothes are subjected to alternate impacts with the partitions, and radially extending ribs on the bottom walls of said receptacle.

6. In a washing machine, a tub, a receptacle within the tub having peripheral and bottom walls, perforate radial partitions forming therewith compartments for clothes such that clothes are respectively retained in the compartment in which initially placed, means for oscillating the receptacle whereby the clothes are subjected to alternate impacts with the partitions, and radially extending ribs on the bottom walls of said receptacle between said partitions, opposite sides of said ribs having different slopes whereby the action of the ribs on the clothes will produce circulatory movement of the clothes in a vertical plane.

7. In a washing machine, a tub, a receptacle within the tub having'peripheral and bottom walls, perforate radial partitions forming therewith compartments for clothes such that clothes are respectively retained in the compartment in which initially placed, and means for oscillating the receptacle whereby the clothes are subjected to alternate impacts with the partitions, the faces of said partitions being inclined to the vertical whereby the clothes are given a circulatory movement in a vertical pla 8. In a washing machin a tub, a receptacle within the tub having peripheral and bottom Walls, perforate radial partitions forming therewith compartments for clothes such that clothes are respectively retained in the compartment in which initially placed, and means for oscillating the receptacle whereby the clothes are subjected to alternate impacts with the partitions, said partitions being inclined circumferentially toward the peripheral walls of the receptacle.

9. In a washing machine, a tub, a receptacle within the tub having peripheral and bottom walls, perforate radial partitions forming therewith compartments for clothes such that clothes are respectively retained in the compartment in which initially placed, and means for oscillating the receptacle whereby the clothes are subjected to alternate impacts with the partitions, said partitions being inclined circumferentially with increasing curvature toward the peripheral walls of the receptacle.

10. In a washing machine, a tub, a receptacle within the tub comprising a peripheral wall and perforate partitions extending radially outward to the peripheral wall and circumferentially along the bottom of the receptacle to the adjacent partition, forming compartments for the clothes such that clothes are respectively retained in the compartmentin which initially placed, said partitions being inclined circumferentially with increasing curvature toward the peripheral Wall, and means for oscillating the receptacle whereby the clothes are subjected to alternate impacts with the partitions.

DAVID HAYS. 

